Radio-frequency-device personalization

ABSTRACT

Radio-frequency devices that have internal radio-frequency chips are personalized. A radio-frequency device is inserted into a package. An identifier is read electromagnetically from the radio-frequency chip with a radio-frequency transceiver while the radio-frequency device is within the package. Personalization information is written electromagnetically onto the radio-frequency chip while the radio-frequency device is within the package. An association between the personalization information and the identifier is recorded on a storage device.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to copending, commonly assigned U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/718,481, entitled “AUTOMATED PREPARATION OFRADIO-FREQUENCY DEVICES FOR DISTRIBUTION,” filed Nov. 19, 2003 by FredC. Casto et al., the entire disclosure of which is incorporated hereinby reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application relates generally to radio-frequency (“rf”) devices.More specifically this application relates to personalization of rfdevices.

An rf device is a device that incorporates the use of electromagnetic orelectrostatic coupling in the radio-frequency portion of theelectromagnetic spectrum to provide a unique identification signal. Thespecific portion of the spectrum that is used may depend on a particularapplication, varying from low-frequency rf devices that operate at aboutseveral kHz, to higher-frequency rf devices that may operate at GHzlevels; the transmission range is greater with higher frequencies,although devices that operate at such frequencies tend to be morecostly.

In recent years, the ability to use radio-frequency transmissions toprovide a unique identification signal has been exploited to provide analternative to other identification systems. There have increasinglybeen efforts to expand the use of rf more widely, integrating it intofinancial-transaction systems as an alternative mechanism foridentifying credit or debit accounts, for example. In this way, an rfidentification code may substitute for information that has moretraditionally been stored on the magnetic stripe of a magnetic-stripecard. A typical rf device includes an rf transponder that responds toradio-frequency waves emitted by a transceiver. Because the transpondermay be relatively small, it may conveniently be integrated into a widevariety of objects rather than being limited to a standard structure ashas been the case for a magnetic-stripe card. For example, rftransponders may conveniently be included in key fobs, among a varietyof other types of objects.

The magnetic-stripe information is an example of a more general class ofpersonalization information that may be provided on the rf device on anindividual-by-individual basis. In the past, techniques for packagingand sending such personalized rf devices have had the risk that an rfdevice personalized for one individual might incorrectly be sent to adifferent individual. This risk arises from the way in which thepersonalized devices have been packaged, and which has typically beenperformed in one of two ways. In some instances, the rf devices areencoded prior to distribution in a highly manual fashion. After a deviceis personalized by encoding the personalization information on thedevice, it is placed in a package, with the package subsequently beinglabeled for distribution. This process involves a significant manualcomponent, and is consequently slow and costly. In addition, the risk ofmisdirection arises from the possibility of mislabeling a package afterthe device has been placed inside, a risk that is significant when thedistribution implicates a large number of devices. In other instances,the attempt to encode the rf devices prior to distribution iscircumvented by shifting the burden of performing the encoding at apoint of distribution. For example, devices may be provided to a retailoutlet for purchase by customers, with the encoding being performed onlyupon such purchase. This approach is generally less convenient forcustomers, particularly for certain types of rf devices, and may beimplemented with less uniformity.

There is accordingly a need in the art for improved methods and systemsof personalizing rf devices for distribution.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention provide methods of personalizing aradio-frequency device. The radio-frequency device comprises aradio-frequency chip internal to the radio-frequency device. Theradio-frequency device is inserted into a package. An identifier is readelectromagnetically from the radio-frequency chip with a radio-frequencytransceiver while the radio-frequency device is within the package.Personalization information is written electromagnetically onto theradio-frequency chip while the radio-frequency device is within thepackage. An association between the personalization information and theidentifier is recorded on a storage device.

In one embodiment, the identifier comprises an alphanumeric string. Inanother embodiment, the personalization information identifies afinancial account.

In some embodiments, the package may be labeled for delivery to arecipient prior to inserting the radio-frequency device into thepackage. This permits an embodiment, for instance, in which prior towriting the personalization information onto the radio-frequency chip,an optical code is read from the labeled package. The personalizationinformation to be written onto the radio-frequency chip may then beidentified from the optical code. In one embodiment, the optical codecomprises a bar code.

In some instances, a quality-assurance process may be performed afterwriting the personalization information onto the radio-frequency chip.In such a process, the optical code is read from the labeled package.The personalization information to have been written onto theradio-frequency chip is identified from the optical code. The identifieris read electromagnetically from the radio-frequency chip while theradio-frequency device is within the package. A purported identifier isretrieved from a record of an association between the personalizationinformation and the purported identifier. The identifier is comparedwith the purported identifier. In some instances, the personalizationinformation may also be read electromagnetically from theradio-frequency chip while the radio-frequency device is within thepackage. In such instances, the retrieved personalization information iscompared with the identified personalization information to have beenwritten onto the radio-frequency chip.

In other embodiments, an initialization process may be used in which theradio-frequency device itself comprises an optical code. Recording theassociation between the personalization information and the identifiermay then comprise recording an association among the personalizationinformation, the identifier, and the optical code. The initializationprocess may be performed prior to inserting the radio-frequency deviceinto the package, and includes reading the optical code from theradio-frequency device. The identifier is read electromagnetically fromthe radio-frequency chip, and an association between the optical codeand the identifier is recorded on the storage device.

In some cases, the personalization information is encrypted prior toelectromagnetically writing the personalization information onto theradio-frequency chip. In such cases, an encryption key may be writtenelectromagnetically onto the radio-frequency chip.

These methods may be used in embodiments that personalize a plurality ofradio-frequency devices by initializing, personalizing, and/orquality-assurance processes for multiple devices. The quality-assuranceprocesses may be performed on a subset of the devices rather than onevery device. Those embodiments that apply the methods to multipleradio-frequency devices thus enable automated production environments inwhich substantial numbers of radio-frequency devices may be personalizedfor distribution to recipients.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the presentinvention may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of thespecification and the drawings wherein like reference numerals are usedthroughout the several drawings to refer to similar components.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an rf device and a package for anrf device used in embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a system for packagingpersonalized radio-frequency devices in an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3A is a flow diagram illustrating a prescanning process for aplurality of rf devices used in certain embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3B is a flow diagram illustrating a method for packagingpersonalized radio-frequency devices in an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3C is a flow diagram illustrating a quality-assurance process usedin validating packaged rf devices in an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a controller that may be used withautomated systems in embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention provide for automated preparation of rfdevices for distribution. Such embodiments use a process in whichpersonalization information is encoded on an rf device after the devicehas been placed within a package. By a series of checks with one or moredatabases that include information about the rf device, thepersonalization information, and the package, the risk of misdirectionof a personalized rf device is substantially reduced.

The general function embraced by embodiments of the invention isillustrated in FIG. 1, which shows an exemplary rf device in the form ofa key fob 104 that includes an rf chip to which information may bewritten as described below. The fob 104 itself may include a housing 108having an activation button 120 and enclosing an rf transponder 116 thatis in electrical communication with the rf chip. The fob 104 may beidentified with an rf-device optical code 112, shown in the example as abar code printed on the housing 108. More generally, the optical codemay comprise any optically readable indicia used in uniquely identifyingthe rf device. When encoded, such a fob 104 or other rf device may beused in accordance with functions enabled by the personalizationinformation that is encoded. For instance, in cases where thepersonalization information comprises financial-account information suchas may correspond to personalization information used on magnetic-stripedevices, the fob 104 may be used to engage in financial transactions.The fob 104 is provided near an rf reader and activated with theactivation button 120. A code read from the fob 104 is then used toidentify a financial account to be used in the transaction.

The packaging in which the rf device is transmitted to a recipient isdenoted generally by reference number 130 in FIG. 1. The packaging 130includes a structure 134 within which the rf device may be held, with anumber of examples of different types of structures and methods forplacing the rf devices within the structures described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/718,481, which has been incorporated byreference. For instance, the packaging structure 134 may be a box, anenvelope, or any other structure capable of containing one of the rfdevices. The recipient is identified with a label 138, which may beaffixed to the structure 134 as a separately prepared component or whichmay be printed directly onto the structure 134 in different embodiments.An optically readable code 142 that uniquely identifies the packaging130 is provided on the label 138, and is shown for an exemplaryembodiment in FIG. 1 in the form of a bar code. Other optically readableindicia may be provided in alternative embodiments.

In a typical automated application, the number of rf devices andpackages to be addressed to recipients may be large. A general overviewof a system that includes a number of different devices used incoordinating the packaging as described below is provided schematicallyin FIG. 2. The system includes a controller 200 that implements methodsof the invention and acts to control and coordinate the activities ofother components comprised by the system. The controller 200 is providedin communication with one or more databases 216, within whichinformation is stored or information is extracted as described below incoordinating packaging of the rf devices. Other components of the systemthat may be provided in communication with and controlled by thecontroller 200 include an rf-device optical scanner 220 and a packagingoptical scanner 224. Each of these devices is capable of reading anddecoding the optical indicia provided respectively on the rf devices andpackaging to identify them. For instance, in embodiments where theoptical indicia comprise bar codes, each of the rf-device opticalscanner 220 and packaging optical scanner 224 may comprise a standardbar-code reader. In some embodiments, such as when the optical indiciaused on the rf devices and on the packaging are of the same type, therf-device optical scanner 220 and packaging optical scanner 224 may beintegrated as a single device. An rf transceiver 228 provided incommunication with the controller 200 permits the transponder withineach of the rf devices to be activated, enabling information to be readfrom or written to the rf chip within each rf device. A printer 232 mayadditionally be provided in communication with the controller 200 toenable the printing of labels for affixation to package structures; insome alternative embodiments, the printer 232 may be capable of printingdirectly on the package structures, allowing the affixation of labels tobe avoided.

The controller 200 may also be provided in communication with one ormore logical modules that include instructions for implementing methodsof the invention. A pre-scan module 204 includes instructions thatpermit the system to be used in generating preliminary information thatis stored within the database(s) 216 to facilitate later functions. Apersonalization module 208 includes instructions to enablepersonalization information to be encoded on an rf device and for thatrf device to be reliably packaged within a package labeled for deliveryto the correct recipient. A quality-assurance module 212 includesinstructions that permit checks to be made of individual packaged rfdevices to ensure that the recipient identified on the packagecorresponds to the correct personalization information encoded on the rfdevice within that package. It is generally expected that suchquality-assurance processes will be performed on randomly selectedsamples, with statistical techniques being used to evaluate thereliability of the packaging. In some embodiments, however, thequality-assurance module may be used routinely with every packaged rfdevice as an additional aspect of the process, thereby decreasing evenfurther the risk of misidentification. In some embodiments, particularlyafter the reliability of the technique has been well established withina particular operational environment, the quality-assurance processesmay be omitted.

Specific actions taken by components of system as directed by thecontroller 200 in accordance with instructions provided by the variouslogical modules is illustrated for some embodiments with the flowdiagrams of FIGS. 3A-3C. The flow diagram of FIG. 3A corresponds to theprescanning process in which information is generated and stored withinone or more databases for use in the personalization andquality-assurance processes, described respectively in connection withthe flow diagrams of FIGS. 3B and 3C.

At block 304 of FIG. 3A, the prescanning procedure begins with aninitial rf device, the process generally being performed as a batchprocedure for a plurality of rf devices. At block 308, the optical codeprovided on the rf device is scanned with the rf-device optical scanner.At block 312, an identifier of the rf chip within the rf device isextracted by having the rf transceiver 228 activate the chip and returnits identifier. Typically, the identifier is provided as a numericalvalue, but may more generally be provided as any alphanumeric string orother identification sequence that uniquely identifies the chip. Acorrespondence between the rf-device optical code and the chipidentifier are recorded in a database 216 at block 316. This informationthus always allows specification of either the chip identifier or theoptical code to be used to identify the other for any of the prescannedoptical devices. If prescanning has been completed for all of theoptical devices within a batch, as checked at block 320, the procedurestops at block 328. If not, the procedure continues to the next rfdevice at block 324, and is repeated until prescanning has beencompleted for all the rf devices.

When a batch of rf devices are to be personalized, personalizationinformation is initially downloaded from database 216 records at block332. Such personalization information may generally be any informationthat is uniquely identified for each of a plurality of recipients of therf devices within the batch, but in a particular embodiment comprisesmagnetic-stripe information used in providing financial-accountinformation for the recipients. At block 336, labels are printed thatidentify the recipients, and may include address information that allowsthe packaged rf devices to be mailed or otherwise delivered to therecipients. The labels also include packaging optical codes thatuniquely identify each of the packages within which an rf device is tobe packaged.

The completion of such preliminary activities permits the actualpersonalization to begin at block 340 with one of the package labels.That label is affixed to one of the packages at block 344 and one of therf devices is inserted within the package at block 348. In someembodiments, the method advantageously permits any of the rf devices tobe inserted within the package at block 348 without at this point beingconcerned that it is the correct rf device to be delivered to theindividual. Furthermore, in some instances, the rf devices maypreviously have been assembled within packages so that inserting thedevices within the packages may be avoided in some embodiments. Theidentifier for the rf chip within the rf device is read with the rftransceiver 228 at block 352, a procedure that may be performed in someembodiments through the packaging structure after the rf device has beeninserted. A correspondence between the rf device and the personalizationinformation to be encoded on it is recorded in the database(s) 216 atblock 356. When combined with the prescanning information, thedatabase(s) thus include a record of the personalization information, arecord of the identifier of the chip within the rf device, a record ofthe optical code on the rf device, and a record of the optical code onthe packaging that contains that rf device. The personalizationinformation is injected with the rf transceiver 228 at block 360. Insome instances, the personalization information may be encrypted toprovide security for the information, in which case relevantcryptographic keys may additionally be injected onto the chip with therf transceiver 228 at block 364. For example, the cryptographic keys maycomprise data-encryption-standard (“DES”) keys.

This personalization process may be performed for each of the labels ina batch using the prescanned rf devices, thereby allowing thedatabase(s) to contain comprehensive information correlating the rfdevices with the chips they contain and the packages within which theyare deposited. A check is made at block 368 whether all of the labelswithin a given batch have been processed in this way, with the procedurestopping at block 376 if they have. If not, the next package label isselected at block 372 and the process repeated with the package label.

Not only does the manner in which the personalization is performeddecrease the risk of misidentification of an intended recipient for aparticular rf device, it provides comprehensive database informationthat may be used in quality-assurance processes, such as illustratedwith the flow diagram of FIG. 3C. For a given packaged rf device, theoptical code on the label for the package may be scanned at block 378.By virtue of the correspondence of information in the database(s), thiscode identifies the optical code of the rf device that should becontained within the package, the identifier for the rf chip within thatrf device, and the personalization information that should be includedon the chip. Since the rf chip may be read through the packaging, acomparison of these properties may be performed with the actualproperties of the chip within the packaging. Thus the chip identifierfor the rf device that is within the packaging is read at block 382 andcompared with the expected identifier recorded in the database(s) atblock 384. If they fail to match, the quality-assurance test isdesignated at block 392 as having failed. If they correspond, a furthercomparison may be made by reading the personalization information fromthe rf device at block 386 and comparing it with the expectedpersonalization information defined by the database(s) at block 388.Again, if they fail to match, the quality-assurance is designated ashaving failed at block 392. If both the chip identifier andpersonalization information are found to correspond, however, thequality-assurance test is designated as having passed at block 390. Infurther embodiments, other information may additionally compared as partof the quality-assurance process, such as by comparing the encryptionkeys on the device with those identified in the database.

The flow diagrams of FIGS. 3A-3C provide a particular sequence that maybe followed in particular embodiments of the invention. It should beunderstood, however, that this particular sequence is merely exemplaryand that other sequences may be used in alternative embodiments.Furthermore, the specific identification of steps that are performed isnot intended to be limiting; in some embodiments some of the steps forthe exemplary embodiments may be omitted while in other embodimentsadditional steps may be performed.

FIG. 4 provides a schematic illustration of a structure that may be usedto implement the controller 200 in the preceding embodiments. FIG. 4broadly illustrates how individual system elements may be implemented ina separated or more integrated manner. The controller 200 is showncomprised of hardware elements that are electrically coupled via bus426, including a processor 402, an input device 404, an output device406, a storage device 408, a computer-readable storage media reader 410a, a communications system 414, a processing acceleration unit 416 suchas a DSP or special-purpose processor, and a memory 418. The databaseinformation 216 may conveniently be stored on the storage device(s) 408.The computer-readable storage media reader 410 a is further connected toa computer-readable storage medium 410 b, the combinationcomprehensively representing remote, local, fixed, and/or removablestorage devices plus storage media for temporarily and/or morepermanently containing computer-readable information. The communicationssystem 414 may comprise a wired, wireless, modem, and/or other type ofinterfacing connection and permits data to be exchanged with otherdevices.

The controller 200 also comprises software elements, which mayconveniently correspond to modules 204, 208, and 212 when the modulesare integrated with the controller. The software elements are shown asbeing currently located within working memory 420, including anoperating system 424 and other code 422, such as a program designed toimplement methods of the invention. It will be apparent to those skilledin the art that substantial variations may be made in accordance withspecific requirements. For example, customized hardware might also beused and/or particular elements might be implemented in hardware,software (including portable software, such as applets), or both.Further, connection to other computing devices such as networkinput/output devices may be employed.

Thus, having described several embodiments, it will be recognized bythose of skill in the art that various modifications, alternativeconstructions, and equivalents may be used without departing from thespirit of the invention. Accordingly, the above description should notbe taken as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined in thefollowing claims.

1. A method of personalizing a radio-frequency device that comprises aradio-frequency chip internal to the radio-frequency device, the methodcomprising: inserting the radio-frequency device into a package;electromagnetically reading an identifier from the radio-frequency chipwith a radio-frequency transceiver while the radio-frequency device iswithin the package; electromagnetically writing personalizationinformation onto the radio-frequency chip while the radio-frequencydevice is within the package, wherein the personalization informationcomprises financial-account information defining a financial accountused to support financial transactions; and electronically recording ina database an association between the personalization information andthe identifier on a storage device.
 2. The method recited in claim 1wherein the package is labeled for delivery to a recipient prior toinserting the radio-frequency device into the package.
 3. The methodrecited in claim 2 further comprising, prior to writing thepersonalization information onto the radio-frequency chip: reading anoptical code from the labeled package; and identifying thepersonalization information to be written onto the radio-frequency chipfrom the optical code.
 4. The method recited in claim 3 wherein theoptical code comprises a bar code.
 5. The method recited in claim 3further comprising, after writing the personalization information ontothe radio frequency chip, as part of a quality-assurance process:reading the optical code from the labeled package; identifying thepersonalization information to have been written onto theradio-frequency chip from the optical code; electromagnetically readingthe identifier from the radio-frequency chip while the radio-frequencydevice is within the package; retrieving a purported identifier from arecord of an association between the personalization information and thepurported identifier; and comparing the identifier with the purportedidentifier.
 6. The method recited in claim 5 further comprising:electromagnetically reading the personalization information from theradio-frequency chip while the radio-frequency device is within thepackage; and comparing the retrieved personalization information withthe identified personalization information to have been written onto theradio-frequency chip.
 7. The method recited in claim 1 wherein theidentifier comprises an alphanumeric string.
 8. The method recited inclaim 1 further comprising: encrypting the personalization informationprior to electromagnetically writing the personalization informationonto the radio-frequency chip; and electromagnetically writing anencryption key onto the radio-frequency chip.
 9. The method recited inclaim 1 wherein: the radio-frequency device comprises an optical code;and recording the association between the personalization informationand the identifier comprises recording an association among thepersonalization information, the identifier, and the optical code. 10.The method recited in claim 9 further comprising, prior to inserting theradio-frequency device into the package: reading the optical code fromthe radio-frequency device; electromagnetically reading the identifierfrom the radio-frequency chip; and recording an association between theoptical code and the identifier on the storage device.
 11. The methodrecited in claim 1 wherein the personalization information identifies afinancial account.
 12. A method of preparing a radio-frequency devicefor delivery to a recipient, the radio-frequency device comprising aradio-frequency chip internal to the radio-frequency device, the methodcomprising: labeling a package with an indicia and an identification ofthe recipient; inserting the radio-frequency device into the package;electromagnetically reading an identifier from the radio-frequency chipwhile the radio-frequency device is within the package; identifyingpersonalization information from the indicia, wherein thepersonalization information comprises financial-account informationdefining a financial account used to support financial transactions;electromagnetically writing the personalization information onto theradio-frequency chip while the radio-frequency device is within thepackage; and recording an association among the personalizationinformation, the identifier, and the indicia.
 13. The method recited inclaim 12 wherein the radio-frequency devices includes a first opticalcode, wherein the indicia on the label comprises a second optical code,and further comprising: initializing a record for the radio-frequencydevice, the initializing comprising: reading the first optical code fromthe radio-frequency device; electromagnetically reading the identifierfrom the radio-frequency chip; and recording an association between thefirst optical code and the identifier as part of the record; andthereafter verifying the personalization information written onto theradio-frequency chip as part of a quality-assurance process, theverifying comprising: reading the second optical code from the labeledpackage; identifying the personalization information to have beenwritten onto the radio-frequency chip from the second optical code;electromagnetically reading the identifier from the radio-frequency chipwhile the radio-frequency device is within the package; retrieving apurported identifier from a record of an association among thepersonalization information, the purported identifier, the first opticalcode, and the second optical code; and comparing the identifier with thepurported identifier.
 14. The method recited in claim 13 wherein theverifying further comprises: electromagnetically reading thepersonalization information from the radio-frequency chip while theradio-frequency device is within the package; and comparing theretrieved personalization information with the identifiedpersonalization information to have been written onto theradio-frequency chip.
 15. A method for personalizing a plurality ofradio-frequency devices in an automated process, each suchradio-frequency device comprising a radio-frequency chip internal to theradio-frequency device, the method comprising: labeling a plurality ofpackages, each such package comprising an optical code and deliveryinformation for a recipient of one of the plurality of radio-frequencydevices; for each of the plurality of radio-frequency devices, insertingthe each of the plurality of radio-frequency devices into one of theplurality of packages; reading the optical code from the one of theplurality of packages; identifying personalization information to bewritten to the radio-frequency chip of the each of the plurality ofradio-frequency devices from the read optical code, wherein thepersonalization information comprises financial-account informationdefining a financial account used to support financial transactions;electromagnetically reading an identifier from the radio-frequency chipof the each of the plurality of radio-frequency devices while the eachof the plurality of radio-frequency devices is within the package;electromagnetically writing the personalization information onto theradio-frequency chip of the each of the plurality of radio-frequencydevices while the each of the radio-frequency devices is within thepackage; and recording an association between the identifiedpersonalization information and the identifier on a storage device; andtransmitting the plurality of packages to recipients according to thedelivery information.
 16. The method recited in claim 15 whereinlabeling the plurality of packages comprises: printing a label for eachof the plurality of packages, the label including the optical code andthe delivery information; and affixing the label to the each of theplurality of packages.
 17. The method recited in claim 15 wherein thedelivery information for the recipient comprises an address for therecipient.
 18. The method recited in claim 15 further comprisingverifying the personalization information written onto theradio-frequency chip for each of a subset of the plurality ofradio-frequency devices, the verifying comprising: reading the opticalcode from one of the plurality of packages, the each of the subset ofthe plurality of radio-frequency devices being within the one of theplurality of packages; identifying the personalization information tohave been written onto the radio-frequency chip comprised by the each ofthe subset of the plurality of radio-frequency devices from the readoptical code; electromagnetically reading the identifier from theradio-frequency chip comprised by the each of the subset of theplurality of radio-frequency devices while the each of the subset of theplurality of radio-frequency devices is within the one of the pluralityof packages; retrieving a purported identifier from a record of anassociation among the personalization information to have been writtenonto the radio-frequency chip comprised by the each of the subset of theplurality of radio-frequency devices, the purported identifier, and theoptical code read from the one of the plurality of packages; andcomparing the identifier with the purported identifier.
 19. The methodrecited in claim 15 wherein each such radio-frequency device furthercomprises a optical code associated with the identifier for theradio-frequency chip comprised by the each such radio-frequency deviceand optically readable from the each such radio-frequency device. 20.The method recited in claim 19 wherein the optical code associated withthe identifier for the radio-frequency chip comprises a bar code. 21.The method recited in claim 15 wherein the optical code comprised byeach such package comprises a bar code.